86: Enchanting is the Art of Forging Divine Weapons!

"Fire Aspect…"

Keqing murmured the enchantment name under her breath, her eyes gradually lighting up with understanding.

A moment later, excitement flashed across her face as she exclaimed, "You're saying that if Lion's Roar is enchanted with Fire Aspect, then every strike I land will ignite my enemies?"

"That means… every single attack of mine would automatically trigger an Overloaded elemental reaction?!"

Keqing's realization sent a ripple through the group, and they all turned toward Ryen, anticipation written across their faces.

Ryen merely shrugged. "In this world, the reaction between water and lava only results in stone or obsidian. I doubt there's such a thing as elemental reactions here."

The moment those words left his lips, disappointment spread among the group.

"But—"

Ryen deliberately paused, dragging out the suspense.

His smirk widened as he pointed at Lion's Roar.

"This world may not have elemental reactions, but does yours?"

Keqing let out a breath, finally realizing that Ryen had been teasing her on purpose.

She sighed in exasperation, giving him a half-hearted glare. "Next time, Ryen, don't mess around like that when you're talking about something this important. You're this close to getting smacked!"

Ryen let out a light chuckle, waving off her frustration. Then, his expression shifted to a more serious one as he took Lion's Roar from Keqing.

The group immediately held their breath.

The next moment would determine the extent to which enchantments could impact Teyvat.

If the enchantment succeeded, it would confirm that not only swords, but also bows and polearms—corresponding to swords, bows, and tridents in the MC world—could be enchanted.

And if that were the case…

Ryen already knew the first thing he'd do: ask Zhongli for a Vortex Vanquisher.

A divine weapon already infused with the fundamental laws of Teyvat… and then layering it with enchantments like Looting, Sharpness, and Fire Aspect?

At that point, even if he ran into a Ruin Grader, he could confidently introduce himself as the Fire God of Liyue!

Hell, even if all he got was Knockback, Keqing could theoretically smack an Electro Hypostasis so far away that it'd land in Musk Reef.

After all, enchantments were essentially a new set of laws that could be integrated into weapons.

The tension in the room thickened as they watched Ryen work.

They watched as he placed Lion's Roar on the anvil.

They watched as he set the enchanted book next to it.

And then—

Ryen fell silent.

The only sound in the room was the faint rhythm of their breathing.

Perhaps it was Ryen's impassive expression, but after a long pause, Keqing finally forced a small, wry smile.

"It didn't work, did it? That's okay, Ryen, even if—"

Clang!

A crisp metallic sound echoed through the air.

Ryen lifted Lion's Roar—now enveloped in a soft purple glow—before turning to Keqing, his face blank.

"Huh? What were you saying?"

"…"

Keqing stood frozen.

Several seconds passed before she finally processed what had happened.

Then, realization dawned upon her.

"You—!!"

The frustration bubbled over, but so did the joy.

Keqing puffed up her cheeks, pouting as she glared at Ryen. However, her eyes gleamed with exhilaration.

"Ryen, you're so childish!"

Ryen burst into laughter, finding her reaction thoroughly amusing. "Come on, it was just a joke! You all looked so tense!"

He then handed the sword back to Keqing and, in a much more serious tone, declared:

"As you all saw… the enchantment worked!"

"In fact, not just single-handed swords, but bows and polearms are also compatible with enchantments."

"It looks like a lot of you will be needing new weapon upgrades soon."

Nearby, Ningguang watched as Keqing swung Lion's Roar, the enchanted sword generating visible waves of heat.

Her expression grew complex.

"It seems I was still being too cautious in my earlier assumptions…"

A contemplative silence followed before she spoke again.

"Ryen, I have a question. What kind of enchantments can be applied to these three weapons?"

Ryen beckoned them to follow as he led them back down to the courtyard.

Once there, he casually placed down a pile of wooden blocks.

Then, he grabbed a handful of eggs and tossed them into the enclosure, summoning four small chickens.

He figured that if he didn't let Keqing try out her new enchanted weapon soon, she might get so excited that she'd accidentally set his house on fire.

Keqing wasted no time. The moment Ryen finished his preparations, she swung Lion's Roar with eager anticipation, eager to test its power.

Lightning and fire intertwined in the air, yet… there was no elemental reaction.

At its core, this world simply wasn't compatible with elemental reactions the way Teyvat was.

Even so, the sheer power Lion's Roar now exhibited was undeniable.

A weapon that had fused the laws of fire into its blade—if Zhongli were to comment on it, he would say…

This weapon was evolving into a divine artifact.

In Teyvat, the weapons wielded by the Seven were imbued with fragments of their godly laws.

For such an effect to manifest from an enchantment…

Unbelievable.

Zhongli's mind churned as he processed this revelation, yet his expression remained as steady as ever. He turned his gaze to Ryen, waiting for his explanation.

"Let's start with sword enchantments."

Ryen took a sip of tea, clearing his throat before listing them out.

"Looting, Unbreaking, Sharpness, Knockback, Fire Aspect, and Mending."

"These six are the core enchantments for swords. You've already seen what Fire Aspect does—it turns the weapon into a permanent source of fire elemental energy."

"Looting increases the number of rewards you gain after defeating an enemy. Unbreaking makes sure your weapon lasts longer."

"Sharpness increases its offensive power, while Knockback ensures that any enemy struck will be sent flying a certain distance."

"When all six enchantments are combined… that is what I would call a truly perfect sword."

The group fell into silent contemplation, carefully digesting this information.

Ryen, however, wasn't finished.

He continued to elaborate on the enchantments for bows and tridents.

At the moment, weapon enchantments were their top priority. Armor enchantments, on the other hand, were a different beast entirely. The sheer variety of possible combinations made them too complex to consider just yet.

And more importantly—

None of them had experience points to spare for enchanting.

That left them with only one viable option: villager trading halls and librarians to buy enchanted books.

However…

The number of emeralds they would need was going to be astronomical.

Ryen had already brought this issue up with Ningguang and the others beforehand.

What surprised him was their response.

These were the same people who, just a short while ago, had been hesitant about taking advantage of the villagers.

Yet now, they unanimously agreed to help Ryen establish a villager trading hub as quickly as possible.

Ryen blinked, staring at them in disbelief.

Ningguang smirked at his reaction and teased, "We're getting more and more familiar with the way this world works, yet you're the one who seems surprised now, Ryen."

"Didn't you say it yourself? These villagers aren't humans—they're not the same kind of life as us. So why should we hesitate?"

"Your iron farm is already running at full capacity. If we continue to treat the villagers with sympathy, the only alternative would be forcing our own workers to mine and risk their lives for resources."

"As you've told us before, this world values innovation, not brute labor."

Hearing his own words used against him, Ryen wasn't the least bit embarrassed—on the contrary, he felt a sense of satisfaction.

They were adapting.

With their intelligence and Liyue's vast resources, it wouldn't be long before everything was set up properly.

Then, he could finally take them beyond their safe haven and into uncharted territory…

"That said," Ningguang sighed, "emeralds and lapis lazuli remain a problem."

Even if they were willing to exploit the villager trading system, the resources required were still immense.

But—

"Our miners are getting used to this world. It won't be long before they fully integrate into our operations."

"The resources we need… we will obtain them."

"No matter the cost, we must ensure that every piece of equipment is enchanted!"

Ningguang's words were firm and decisive. Even Zhongli, ever the cautious one, gave a nod of agreement.

"Now that's a bold commitment," Ryen chuckled.

He had no intention of stopping them.

After all, without mods, enchantments were the easiest way to boost their combat strength.

As for the sheer amount of resources required?

Ha!

Did it even matter?

Thousands of Liyue's elite miners were ready to move into this world at a moment's notice.

Resources?

They would never run out.

Suddenly, Zhongli, who had remained silent throughout the discussion, spoke up.

"Looting, Sharpness, Infinity, Channeling, Riptide…"

The moment he began listing those enchantments, everyone's attention snapped toward him.

His expression remained as steady as ever, but those who knew him well—Xiao and Cloud Retainer—noticed something hidden in his gaze.

A deep, unfathomable shock.

His lips parted slightly, as if hesitating to speak.

But after a moment, he finally continued.

"I once came across an ancient manuscript… a fragmented record of the First Throne's creation myth."

The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately.

Xiao and Cloud Retainer's faces paled, their bodies tensing as if preparing for battle.

But then, realizing they were not in Teyvat, they forced themselves to relax.

"The deity of the First Throne had neither name nor form. The one dearest to Them worshipped the name Phanes."

"They descended upon the world, bestowing it upon Their beloved. Their words shaped reality—when They called for thunder, the sky roared with storms; when They called for rain, the heavens wept torrents."

"Their voice was the very law of the world. They were the universal light, and from Their shadow, the Four Archons were born."

Zhongli's voice carried an eerie solemnity as he finished. Then, his tone sharpened with warning.

"Do not speak of this in Teyvat. Not to anyone. If word of this spreads, Liyue will suffer the same fate as Khaenri'ah."

A chill ran down everyone's spines. They nodded instinctively, understanding the weight of his words.

Ryen frowned, still puzzled. "So… what exactly are you trying to say?"

Zhongli exhaled, his expression softening slightly. Then, he spoke in a quiet, deliberate tone.

"The world sees Teyvat as a land governed by elements. But if you truly study the nature of gods… you will realize they are, at their core, embodiments of laws."

"From the very beginning—since the First Throne, and perhaps even before it—this world has always been defined by laws."

"Morax governs contracts and stone. Barbatos governs freedom and wind. The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata governed wisdom and the forests…"

"The First Throne's identity remains unknown, but if the ancient texts hold any truth… Their power was, in essence, an unparalleled mastery of laws."

"In Teyvat, to wield the power of laws is to be associated with divinity."

"Even those who merely command elemental energy through their Visions are granted the title of Original God—a qualification to ascend to Celestia."

Zhongli's gaze locked onto Ryen's.

"You still don't understand what I'm saying?"

Ryen's breath hitched as realization dawned.

He muttered softly, "Enchantments… Sharpness, Punch, Knockback, Infinity, Channeling…"

"You're saying…"

"Yes," Zhongli confirmed, his voice firm.

"Your enchantments do not simply enhance weapons."

"They inscribe laws onto them—laws powerful enough to grant them the name of a god."

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